Swedish police hunting Swedish IS fighters in Iraq

Sweden is planning to send police to Iraq to help investigate the citizens who have gone to fight there for the terror group Islamic State, home minister Anders Ygeman has announced.

The officers would give expert help to their Iraqi counterparts to ensure that sufficient evidence is gathered to successfully prosecute some of the roughly 300 Swedish citizens who travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight for Islamic State and other Islamic groups, about half of whom still remain in these countries.

"This is in order to be able to pull more Swedes who have travelled there for terror up in front of courts in Iraq and therefore prevent them from returning to Sweden or Europe," Ygeman told Swedish Radio.

"I hope that as soon as possible, we will be able to bring in powerful measures to strengthen Iraq's justice system."

The plan is part of a coordinated European Union initiative which is currently under discussion, he added.

Swedish Radio understands that Swedish police have already submitted a report to the government on how they envisage working in Iraq.

The help detailed in the report include offering education to Iraqi police and bring Swedish forensic expertise.